Method and means for mounting and operating hingedly interconnected panel elements for closing hatchways, railway cars and like open spaces



July 24, 1962 H. KUMMERMAN 3,045,746

METHOD AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING AND OPERATING HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTEDPANEL ELEMENTS FOR CLOSING HATCHWAYS, RAILWAY CARS AND LIKE OPEN SPACESFiled March 5, 1959 ,guideway which lies within the stowage place.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,a45,746 Patented July 24, 1962 METHOD ANDMEANS FOR MOUNTING AND OPERATING HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED PANEL ELEMENTSFOR CLOSING HA'IQH- WAYS, RAILWAY CARS AND LIKE OPEN SPACES HenriKummerman, Paris, France, assignor to Mac- Gregor-Comarain, Paris,France, a French body corporate Filed Mar. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 796,787Claims priority, application France Mar. 25, 1958 5 Claims. (Cl.160-206) It is the essential object of this invention to provide amethod of operating panels for closing open-air spaces such as shipshatchways, railway cars and the like. This method is of the type whereintwo or more panels hingedly connected to one another and in certaincases to the edge of the space to be closed are used, said panels, whenthey are stowed away or folded up and when said space is open, occupyinga substantially vertical position and being moved to their horizontal orclosing position by their weight alone.

As a rule, panels of this general type are operated by means of a cableor a fluid-actuated cylinder so as to lift them when it is desired toopen the hatchway or like space. When it is desired to close thehatchway, the cable is simply slackened and in this case the panelsslide along their guideways by their own weight and are progressivelyseparated from one another or divaricated until they cover the space tobe closed. Generally, these panels are provided with rollers tofacilitate their movements along the edges of the hatchway or likespace.

Now the case is frequently observed of a kind of jamming or interferencecaused by the vertical propping of the panel remotest from the stowagespace, this inconvenience occurring more particularly when two panelshingedly connected to each other and to the edge of the hatchway or likespace are used. This jamming effect is such that when the operatingcable is slackened the panels remain stationary and it is necessary topull the lower end of the first panel in order to cause the first orsingle pair of panels to open like the legs of a compass.

It is the main object of this invention to avoid the inconveniencescharacterizing the operation of panels of this general type. The methodof operation according to this invention is remarkable notably in thatit consists in creating or developing a substantially lateral thrustapplied to at least one of the aforesaid panels at the time when it isabout to start the movement to close said space, the consequence of thislateral thrust being to prevent the panel or panels from jamming and topromote their movement away from each other.

According to another feature of this invention, the aforesaid lateralthrust is obtained by using the weight of at least one of said panels.

The lateral thrust mentioned hereinabove may be .ob-

'tained for example by suspending the end panel or the panel subject tothe aforesaid jamming efiect above its guideway or at least above thatportion of the relevant This suspension may be obtained by either makingthis panel smaller than the adjacent panel, or by increasing the spacebetween the guideway and the panel concerned at the proper location.

Also in accordance with the features of this invention,

the means used for exerting a lateral thrust during the initial phase ofthe closing movement may consist of a link rod or like member adapted toreceive from the suspended panel a thrust or traction due to the weightof the panel. If desired and according to a specific form of embodimentof this invention the suspended panel may be connected to a fixed pointor to an adjacent panel by means of said link rod, provided that thepivot axes are properly positioned. In all cases, the axis of thepivotal connection between the link rod and the suspended panel must belocated beneath the axis of the hinged connection between this panel andthe adjacent panel.

According to a further feature of this invention, the link rod or likemember is provided with a slot or like oblong hole or device whereby thesuspended panel may move freely during its closing movement.

According to another feature characterizing this invention, when twohingedly interconnected panels are used, one of these panels beinghingedly connected, in addition, to the edge of the hatchway or likeaperture to be closed, the pivot axis of the aforesaid link memberoverlies for example the axis of the hinged connection between the paneland the space to be closed.

From the foregoing it is evident that With the means contemplatedaccording to this invention when the operating cable is slackened andthe panel assembly tends to become jammed, the weight of the suspendedpanel bears on the link rod end to produce a torque resulting in alateral thrust exerted on the panel concerned, immediately as theclosing movement begins. When the panel descends it engages the guidewayand at this moment the gravity eifect ceases and the opening movement ofthe compass legs, i.e. the closing of the hatchway may take place underabsolutely normal conditions.

Other features of the invention will appear as the following descriptionproceeds with reference to the single FlGURE of the accompanying drawingforming part of this specification and illustrating diagrammatically byway of example a typical form of embodiment of a hinged panel assemblyconstructed according to the teachings of this invention.

In this example, the shiphold is designated generally by the referencenumeral 1 and the hatchway by the reference numeral 2. Along eachlongitudinal edge of the hatchway 2 is a guideway 3 adapted to beengaged by a roller 4 mounted on a panel 5 hingedly connected to anadjacent panel 6 by a pivot pin 7. The opposite end'of this other panelis .hingedly connected by a pivot pin .8 to the end of the hatchway. Inthe example illustrated, it is assumed that the aperture to be closed isa ships hatchway, but it will be readily understood that the samearrangement may be used in connection with any other construction ofsame character which necessitates the rapid and easy opening and closingof an open air (or open top) space.

According to this invention, the length or, width of the panel 5 isinferior to that of ,panel 6, so that in the vertical folded position(as shown in chain-dotted lines at 5 and 6' in the figure) the roller 4lies outside the guideway 3. The two panels may be interconnected bymeans of arms 9, 10 pivoted about the pin 7.

Also in accordance with the teachings of this invention a link rod 11pivoted 0n the hatchway coaming by means of a pin 12 is provided. Ofcourse, this pivot pinmay be positionedabove or below this point, or forexample on the adjacent panelfi. When both panels 5, 6 are stowedvertically this link rod must be slightly inclined so as to have thetendency to tilt downwards, as shown in dotted lines at 11 in thefigure.

At its opposite end this link rod 11 is pivoted on a pin 13 rigid withthe panel 5. This pivotal connection may take place through the mediumof an elongated hole or slot 14, or any other means permitting avariation in the distance between the axes of pins 12 and 13.

As the panel or rather the pivot pin 7 interconnecting the two panelsdescribes a circular are about the pivot pin 8 by which the panel 6 ispivoted on the hatch-coaming (this are being designated by the letterA), and as on the other hand the link rod itself describes a circularare about its pivot pin 12 (this are being designated by the referenceletter B), it is evident that some clearance or a certain degree ofelongation must be provided for the link rod 11. This elongation isactually ensured by the slot 14, although any other adequate means maybe contemplated to this end.

The dotted lines in the lower portion of the figure show the position ofthe panels 5, 6 when they close the hatchway. In this portion of thefigure all similar parts are designated by the same reference numbers towhich an index is added.

It is quite clear that the operation of the device described hereinaboveis extremely simple. In fact, at the beginning, when the panels are intheir open position 5, 6, that is, in the vertical position shown indotted lines on the right-hand side of the figure, by simply slackeningthe control cable (not shown) which holds the panels in this position,the weight of the panel 5 will cause same to bear on the end 14' of linkrod 11 and rotate in the direction of the arrow F. This rotation createsa lateral thrust promoting the opening of the compass legs consisting ofthe two panels 5', 6' and therefore permits the opening movement to takeplace under perfectly adequate conditions, without any jamming of theparts concerned.

The drawing shows in thick lines the relative position of the parts whenthe panel 5 or rather the roller 4 mounted thereon contacts the guideway3. Of course, from this moment on no weight is supported by the link rod11 and the movement continues under perfectly normal conditions untilthe panels attain their hatchway closing position at 5" and 6".

Although the example illustrated and described herein comprises twopanel hingedly connected to each other and to the edge of the hatchway,the same arrangement may be used for operating panels of any otherdescription and for any similar use, provided that a hinged connectionis provided between a pair of adjacent panels and that the panels are tobe stowed vertically.

Of course, the invention should not be construed as being limited to thesingle example shown and described herein, as many modifications may bebrought thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a horizontal deck having an aperture, a closure assemblycomprising first and second panels each having opposed edges, a stowagespace for substantially vertically locating said panels when they arefolded and occupy the aperture opening position, said first panel beinghingedly secured at the first of its opposed edges to the edge of saidstowage space adjacent said aperture, said second panel being hingedlysecured at the first of its opposed edges to the said first panel at itssecond opposed edge and folding on the side of said first panel remotefrom said stowage space when in the vertical position, an elongatedgenerally straight link bar positioned between said panels, meanspivotally mounting one end of said link bar on said deck adjacent saidfirst edge of said first panel, a lost motion connection consisting ofinterengaging slot and pin means pivotally connecting the opposite endof said link bar with said second panel in the vicinity of said firstedge thereof, said second edge of said second panel being spaced abovesaid deck to permit said panel to hang freely from said lost motionconnecting means when the panels occupy the aperture opening position,said link means exerting a thrust upon said second panel in thedirection away from said first panel during initial movement of saidfirst panel from opening toward closing position thereof.

2. In a horizontal deck and the like having an aperture, a closureassembly, comprising first and second panels each having opposed edges,a stowage space for substantially vertically locating said panels whenthey are folded and occupy the aperture opening position, said firstpanel being hingedly secured at a first of its opposed edges to the edgeof said stowage space adjacent said aperture, said second panel beinghingedly secured at a first of its opposed edges to said first panel atits second opposed edge and folding on the side of said first panelremote from said stowage space when in the vertical position, anelongated, generally straight link bar positioned between said panels,means pivotally mounting one end of said link bar on said deck adjacentsaid first edge of said first panel, a pin fixed to said second paneland extending laterally therefrom adjacent its first edge, said link barhaving a slot therein adjacent the upper end thereof which is elongatedin the direction of its length, said pin extending into said slot andbeing slidable in the direction of length of said slot, said second endof said second panel being spaced above said deck when said panels arein their aperture opening position, said pin resting on the lower end ofsaid slot and said link bar exerting a thrust upon said second panel inthe direction away from said first panel during initial movement of saidfirst panel from opening toward closing position thereof, said pinsliding in said slot from the lower end thereof when said panels aremoved to their closing position.

3. Closure assembly according to claim 2, said deck having longitudinalguide means thereon, said second panel having roller means which engagesaid guide means operatively during movement of said panels betweentheir opening and closing positions, said roller means being out ofengagement with said guide means in the opening position of said panelsand during initial movement thereof toward their closing position.

4. Closure assembly according to claim 3, said second panel beingshorter than said first panel.

5. In a horizontal deck and the like having an aperture, a closureassembly comprising first and second panels each having opposed edges, astowage space for substantially vertically locating said panels whenthey are folded and occupy the aperture opening position, said firstpanel being hingedly secured at a first of its opposed edges to the edgeof said stowage space adjacent said aperture, said second panel beinghingedly secured at a first of its opposed edges to said first panel atits second opposed edge and folding on the side of said first panelremote from said stowage space when in the vertical positlon, saidsecond panel being shorter than said first panel, roller means mountedon the lower end of said second panel, longitudinal guide means on saiddeck, an elongated link bar positioned between said panels in theopening position thereof, means pivotally mounting one end of said linkmeans on said deck forwardly of said first edge of said first panel, apin fixed to said second panel adjacent its first edge and extendinglaterally, said link bar having a slot therein adjacent its upper endwhich is elongated in the direction of its length, said pin extendingthrough said slot and being slidable therein, said second edge of saidsecond panel being spaced above said deck and said roller means clearingsaid guide means when said panels are in their aperture openingposition, said pin resting on the lower end of said slot and said linkbar exerting a thrust upon said second panel in the direction away fromsaid first panel during initial movement of said first panel fromopening towards closing 3,045,746 5 6 position thereof, said rollermeans engaging said guide References Cited in the file of this patentmeans operatively during movement of said panels between their openingand closing positions, the distance UNITED STATES PATENTS between thelower pivot of said link bar and the lower 916,045 Skov et a1. Mar. 13,1909 end of said slot being almost the same as the distance be- 52,484,286 Groppebl Oct. 11, 1949 tween the pivots of the respectivehinges so as to permit ,573,181 Burr Oct. 30, 1951 movement of saidpanels to their closing position with 2,590,985 MacGregor Apr. 1, 1952minimum play of said pin within said slot. 2,664,947 Aarvold J an. 5,1954

